Tag: Richard Reese

Top 10 Big 12 rushers based on their PFF run grades

A look at the top 10 running backs in 2022 for the Big 12 Conference. Kansas State, Texas, and Texas Tech claim six of the 10 best runners.

When it came to running the football, the Big 12 Conference had plenty of top-tier runners led by [autotag]Bijan Robinson[/autotag] of Texas.

Alongside [autotag]Roschon Johnson[/autotag], the Longhorns had one of the best one-two punches in the Big 12 and in FBS. We will likely see a different duo wearing the burnt orange in 2023 with Johnson and Robinson likely going to the NFL next season. Robinson is viewed as the No. 1 running back in the NFL draft and has first-round aspirations.

Kansas State and Texas Tech also had a formidable duo in the backfield this past season. With the regular season firmly behind us, Longhorns Wire breaks down the top 10 running backs in the conference based on their grades from PFF (subscription required).

5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 38-35 loss to Baylor

5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 38-35 loss to the Baylor Bears. From @thatmanbryant

Oklahoma suffered their fourth loss on Saturday as they fell 38-35 to Baylor at home. It was a tough loss to swallow. It mirrored the loss to Kansas State simply because Oklahoma couldn’t stop the run despite knowing it was coming at crucial points of the game.

“We couldn’t get out of our own way at the right times,” said head coach Brent Venables in the immediate press availability following the game. He hit the nail on the head as three turnovers, penalties, and missed assignments on a few crucial plays doomed the Oklahoma Sooners.

Craig Williams, not Richard Reese, gashed the Sooners for 192 yards on 25 carries. He scored twice as well.

Offensively, the Sooners were paced by Eric Gray’s 106 yards on the ground and 120 receiving yards from Marvin Mims, who bounced back after arguably his worst performance as a Sooner in the previous game.

While the dust begins to settle and the sting of the loss settles in, what can we walk away with from this game? We present our five takeaways from the game below.

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Final thoughts on the Oklahoma Sooners vs. Baylor Bears

Final thoughts on the Oklahoma Sooners vs. the Baylor Bears Saturday afternoon in Norman. From @john9williams

The Oklahoma Sooners get set to take on the Baylor Bears on Saturday in a matchup between 5-3 teams that were two of the favorites to make the Big 12 title game. Though both still have a mathematical chance to make it, Baylor’s road to Arlington is much more clear.

The Sooners can upset those plans with a win today, but beyond that, Oklahoma is looking to finish the season strong after and 0-3 start to the Big 12 schedule.

As the Sooners welcome a strong Baylor run game and formidable defensive front, here are some final thoughts on Oklahoma’s Big 12 tilt vs. the Baylor Bears.

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Oklahoma vs. Baylor: 4 Bears to know ahead of Saturday’s showdown

Ahead of Oklahoma’s Saturday afternoon showdown with Baylor, here are four Bears to know. From @thatmanbryant

Oklahoma has become quite familiar with their yearly tussles with the Baylor Bears. Whether it was Matt Rhule at the helm or now Dave Aranda, the Bears have provided a tough contest yearly. Games against Baylor haven’t been lopsided affairs in favor of Oklahoma for years now.

In 2019, Oklahoma had to come back from a 28-3 deficit to pick up the win. Later that year, in the Big 12 championship game, it was a one-score win for Jalen Hurts’ Sooners. In 2020, Spencer Rattler’s won 27-14, but it wasn’t an easy 13-point win, and then last year, Baylor handed the Sooners their first loss of the season.

On Saturday, they’ll duke it out once again.

This time the showdown will feature two defensive-minded head coaches, Brent Venables and Dave Aranda, doing battle in a conference that has long been lauded for its offensive prowess.

Last year’s Baylor team manhandled Oklahoma at the point of attack on both sides of the ball. Baylor could look to employ the same approach. However, their personnel this year is different than before. Guys like Jalen Pitre, Terrel Bernard, Abram Smith, Trestan Ebner, Tyquan Thornton, and Gerry Bohannon are no longer on the roster. They are relying on some other faces to step up and make plays.

Here are four Baylor players to know ahead of the showdown.

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5 keys to an Oklahoma Sooners win over the Baylor Bears

Oklahoma has quite the test with the Baylor Bears coming to Norman, but what do they need to do to pick up the win? From @john9williams

The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Baylor Bears in a game that could help set the tone for the remainder of the season as the Sooners look to finish strong.

Baylor comes in at 5-3 and 3-2 in Big 12 play, having picked up wins over Texas Tech, Kansas, and Iowa State. They’ve yet to play TCU, Texas, or Kansas State. With wins over their final four games, the Bears would earn a trip to the Big 12 title game. They still have a lot to play for.

Oklahoma has a chance to play spoiler in this contest if they can come out the gates fast and find some running room against a “stout” Baylor defensive front. Here are this week’s 5 keys to the game.

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5 Oklahoma Sooners that will be key on defense vs. the Baylor Bears

Oklahoma’s defense has a tough task ahead of them against a strong Baylor rushing attack. Here are 5 Sooners that will be key on defense. From @thatmanbryant

Oklahoma enters Saturday’s contest with a chance for revenge. Oklahoma lost to just two teams last year, Baylor and Oklahoma State. Both losses came on the road, which means both will be home games for Oklahoma this season.

Their mini revenge tour starts Saturday as they take on the Baylor Bears at home. Bears’ head coach Dave Aranda has had success against Oklahoma and members of this coaching staff before. Aranda’s 2019 LSU defense suffocated the Sooners in the College Football Playoff before going on to defeat Clemson in the National Championship game. At Baylor, his teams have played Oklahoma incredibly hard.

While Aranda has his handprints all over the defense, Oklahoma must figure out how to stop the Baylor offense that ranks 27th nationally in yards per game at 456.2 and just ahead of the Sooners in yards per play at 6.13 compared to 6.10.

Oklahoma has Billy Bowman back and looks to have Damond Harmon back as well. With a defense that is getting healthy, here are five players that will be key to a win on Saturday vs. Baylor.

Big 12 power rankings: TCU rolls in Morgantown, Cowboys trounced by Kansas State

TCU continues to roll and Oklahoma State fell flat in week nine against Kansas State. How did this week’s Big 12 power rankings turn out? from @john9williams

After nine weeks of play, there’s a clear frontrunner for the Big 12 title after the TCU Horned Frogs stayed undefeated in their win over the West Virginia Mountaineers. Though it was just West Virginia, this is the same team that put 43 points up on the Baylor Bears two weeks ago before falling flat against Texas Tech last week.

While TCU stayed the course, Oklahoma State was crushed by Kansas State, who rebounded nicely after their first Big 12 loss a week ago to TCU. Will Howard was in complete control and the Wildcats defense played their best game of the season, shutting down Spencer Sanders and an explosive Oklahoma State offense.

The Big 12 has been an entertaining league through the first nine weeks of the season and the final stretch will provide a lot of drama for the conference on the way to Arlington. Let’s take a look at this week’s Big 12 power rankings.

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